Month: April 2012

Government Accountability Office / GAO / Comptroller General (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Government Accountability Office / GAO / Comptroller General The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan legislative agency that works for Congress. Often called the “congressional watchdog,” GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars. The head of GAO, the Comptroller General … Read more

Dear Colleague letters (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Dear Colleague letters Members of Congress circulate Dear Colleague letters to urge their colleagues to co-sponsor their legislation. It is common in both chambers for the key proponent of a measure to send a Dear Colleague letter (in print or electronically) to other members requesting … Read more

Exclusion / Disorderly Behaviour / Censure / Reprimand / Expulsion / Ethics (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Exclusion / Disorderly Behaviour / Censure / Reprimand / Expulsion Members of Congress are subject to disciplinary procedures in their respective chambers. The Constitution states (Article I, Section 5, cl. 2): “Each House may . . . punish its Members for disorderly Behaviour, and, with … Read more

Congressional Budget Office / CBO (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Congressional Budget Office / CBO   Introduction to the Congressional Budget Office   The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and Government Accountability Office (GAO) principally serve congressional committees with a variety of reports. The Congressional Budget Office assists Congress in understanding the economic and fiscal environment … Read more

Library of Congress / Congressional Research Service / CRS (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Library of Congress / Congressional Research Service / CRS The photograph by Carol Highsmith is of the Main Reading Room in the Jefferson Building. The Library of Congress is the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution and serves as the research arm of Congress. It is … Read more

Mid-Term Elections / Casualty List (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Mid-Term Elections / Casualty List Mid-term elections / Midterm Elections are the national elections held in November of the even-numbered years between presidential elections. Mid-term election years include 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026, etc. Presidential elections are held very 4 years, including 2012, 2016, 2020, … Read more

General Services Administration / GSA (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms General Services Administration / GSA The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) supports the mission of all federal agencies by providing them with workspace, acquisition services, administrative policies, and citizen engagement tools, so that they can focus on achieving their respective missions. GSA consists of two … Read more

Rules (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Rules The term “rules” has two specific congressional meanings. A rule may be a standing order governing the conduct of House or Senate business that is listed among the permanent rules of either chamber. The rules deal with duties of officers, the order of business, … Read more

Capitol Subway System (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Capitol Subway System     The U.S. Capitol Subway System Beneath Capitol Hill     Underground subways in a tunnel system that connect congressional office buildings to the US Capitol building. A series of tunnels runs between the Senate and House Office Buildings and the … Read more

Committee Calendar (CongressionalGlossary.com)

From the Congressional Glossary – Including Legislative and Budget Terms Committee Calendar A committee calendar provides a comprehensive record of a committee’s actions during one Congress. Most committees periodically publish a committee calendar that lists the bills and resolutions referred to them, action taken on those measures, and other relevant information. All committees except the … Read more